Compressible infusion package



June 4, 1963 IRMSCHER 3,092,242

COMPRESSIBLE INFUSION PACKAGE Filed May 24, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F /6.la

E 2 E r g E g 4/ INVEN TOR. 4 4/16 a AP/IJCA'l? WKM June 4, 1963IRMSCHER 3,092,242

COMPRESSIBLE INFUSION PACKAGE Filed May 24, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. 64/145' a AP/YS'CA A'K J 4, 1963 H. b. IRMSCHER COMPRESSIBLEINFUSION PACKAGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 24, 1961 FIG. 5

INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,092,242 COD/IPRESSIBLE INFUSION PACKAGE Hans 0.Irmscher, Elmont, N.Y., assignor to National Tea Packing Company, Inc.,Long Island City, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 24, 1961,Ser. No. 112,250 2 Claims. (Cl. 2.06.5)

This invention relates to a compressible infusion package, and moreparticularly to a compressible tea bag package and to a method ofproducing the same.

It has been proposed to combine a tea bag With a cover member formedwith wings which may be folded over the tea bag to engage the faces ofthe same and which may be pressed between ones fingers to compress andsqueeze the tea bag for the purpose of expelling residual fluidtherefrom after an infusion step. Tea bags are commonly made withsuspending strings which function as a means for suspending and holdingthe bag for the act of immersion and withdrawal of the bag from the teacup. It has been suggested or proposed to so associate the cover memberwith a string suspendable tea bag that the cover normally embraces thedry tea bag, is withdrawn therefrom to serve as a handhold of thesuspended tea bag during the infusion step and is then returned inposition over the tea bag upon withdrawal from the tea cup for thecompression step.

The prime object of my present invention relates to the making of acompressible tea bag of this type, in which the tea bag, the covermember and the suspending string are combined to produce a composite teabag package, having the following structural and functional propertiesand uses:

(1) In the composite package, the cover member forms a wrapper embracingthe bag; and the string is wound .about and encircles the assembly ofthe tea bag and wrapper-cover and is then anchored to the same to form ameans for firmly tying the wrapper to the tea bag, with the result thata unitary firmed-up package is produced highly serviceable forbox-packaging handling;

(2) In the manner of producing the package, by applying thewrapper-cover and winding the string thereabout and anchoring the stringthereto, the dry infusion contents of the tea bag are so redistributedas to result in the production of a flat, as well as firmed-up, teapackage, which in its flattened form is highly desirable for the mostefficient box packaging and transportation use;

(3) The suspending string is so anchored to the package assembly that itmay be readily detached from its anchored position by a simple pullapplied to the end of the string, upon which the tea bag may be droppedinto the tea cup with the cover serving as a handhold for the bag in itsinfusion step, the cover then being capable of being returned inposition to act as the compression member.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing objects and such objects as mayhereinafter appear, my invention relates to the compressible infusionpackage and to the method of making the same which is sought to bedefined in the appended claims, taken together with the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1a and 1b are opposite face views of the completed compressibleinfusion package of the present invention showing the same in its closedpackage form;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view depicting the manner of opening the packagefor use;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view depicting the positioning that the parts ofthe package assume during an infusion ste BIG. 4 is a view of theelemental apparatus employed in the process of producing thecompressible tea bag pack- .p 3,092,242 Ice Patented June 4, 1963 FIG. 5is a view of the sheet material employed in making the wrapper-cover forthe package;

FIG. 6 is a. fragmentary view shown to an enlarged scale of a part ofthe elemental apparatus shown in FIG. 4 taken in cross-section in theplanes of the lines 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is also a fragmentary view shown to an enlarged scale of a partof the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 taken in cross-section in the plane ofthe line 7-7 in FIG. 4.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, and first to FIGS. la to 3thereof, the compressible infusion package of my present inventioncomprises an infusion such as a tea bag T, a suspending string Sattached to an end such as to the top of the tea bag T and a flexiblecover member C folded over the said top end of the infusion bag anddefining two wings w' and w engaging the faces f and f of the infusionbag. The said string S is attached to the top end of the tea bagpreferably by being stapled thereto as at 10, and the said string isloosely threaded through an orifice 12 in the fold 14 of the covermember C, the said cover member being also provided with a slit 16 inits fold.

To form the package, the string S is wound about and encircles the covermember C and the infusion bag T, the cover member than forming a wrapperfor the tea bag, and the free end 18 of the string S is received anddrawn into the slit 16 in the cover member C, thereby firmly tying thewrapper-cover to the tea bag and thereby also detachably anchoring thestring to the package. The free end 18 of the string is also providedwith a finger tab 20 attached thereto in a position above the part ofthe string which is detachably inserted in the cover slit.

In this composite package, as depicted in FIG. 1a and FIG. lb, the covermember forms a wrapper embracing the faces of the bag; and the stringwound about and encircling the bag-cover assembly and anchored in thefold-slit of the cover forms a means for tightly and firmly tying thewrapper to the tea bag, with the result that a unitary firmed-up packageis produced. As will be further shown below, the parts of the packageare so assembled in the process of producing the same, that the dryinfusion contents of the tea bag, which normally tend to gravitate tothe tea bag bottom, are uniformly redistributed in the bag, resulting inthe production of not only a firmed-up but also of a flattened teapackage. The integrity of the thus produced package is maintained in thesteps of box-packaging a group of such tea bag packages, therebyenabling a uniform and compact assembling of the same in a box, and alsoin the subsequent steps of transporting the same to the ultimatepurchaser since the dry tea contents, in the thus compacted packagedcondition, is prevented from being shaken up with migratory results, inthe movements and vibrations to which the box-package is normallysubjected.

FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings depict the manner of handling the packagefor consumer use. The package is opened by grasping the finger tab 20between the fingers of one hand and by then simply exerting a slightpull applied to the free end 18 of the string S, thereby freeing thisstring end from the friction grip of the fold-slit 16, the fingers ofthe other hand at the same time hold ing the cover-wrapper C, all asdepicted in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The string S and the bag T are thenreleased while the cover-wrapper C is still finger held, with the resultdepicted in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the tea bag T falling to itssuspended condition for the infusion or brewing step, the string Sfreely falling through the orifice 12 in the cover C until stopped bythe engagement with the cover of the finger tab 20, the cover C servingas. a handhold for the bag during the infusion of brew-ing step. Uponwithdrawal of the tea bag from the tea cup the 'finger tab 20 isthenagain grasped between the fingers of the user and the cover C isthen returned to its position with its wings w and W2 overlying thefaces of the tea bag, the wings being then compressed between the usersfingers for compressing and squeezing the tea bag to expel the residualfluid therein. 7

In FIGS. 4 to 7 of the drawings I show the method of the presentinvention for making the compressible infusion package; Considered inits generic aspects, and as best shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, themethod comprises the steps of attaching at one station, designated as I,a string S to the top end of an infusion bag, such as the tea bag T,moving said bag, with said top end forward,- together with the attachedstring S to a second station, designated as II; at which is positioned aflexible member which is to form the cover C, the said flexible memberbeing provided with an orifice 12 and a slit 14' (as best shown'in FIG.of the drawings), then pulling the free section of said string S throughsaidorifice at said second station II by means of a looper 22,continuing the movement of said bag T, endfonward, into said flexiblemember at the orifice and slit thereof, thereby folding said memberthereat over the two faces of the bag, then continuing the movement ofsaid bag'and the folded member assembly through subsequent stationsdesignated as III and IV, while holding the free section of said stringS, this movement being accomplished .by rotatsin-g thesaid assemblyabout or around said string, thereby winding the said string about andencircling said assembly and then drawing the end portion 18 of saidstring S'at the station IV through the slit in the fold of the covermember C. Thereafter at a station, designated as V, Where the assemblyfrom station IV is deposited, the terminal tab 20 is attached to thestring end 18.

, It may be noted at this point that in the sequential steps of thedescribed method the bag T is rotated, in the package forming process,from a position p at station I to a position p at station IV, duringwhich rotation the dry tea contents'of the bag, normally gravitated tothe bag bottom, are redistributed, and under the pressure of the wrapperand string parts, whereby the bag is changed from a bulbous condition toa uniformly flattened condition as depicted in FIG. 4 of the drawings,with the result, as

above stated, that not only is there obtained a firmed-up but also aflattened tea package, enabling the advantages in box packaging and inthe maintenance of the integrity of the individual =tea packages abovereferred to to be attained.

/ i The described method is a continuous method of making thecompressible infusion package, the steps of which now be described morein detail. The string material .24 for forming the individual strings S,are fed from a continuing supply source orrspool 26.

The tea bags T held by grippers (not shown) are deposited on a carrierwheel 28 which is intermittently rotated in the direction of the arrow30 about a central axis defined by the shaft 32, and when a tea bagreaches the position shown in FIG. 4, the grippers move the tea bag tothe station I where the string material 24 is attached by means of astaple to thetea bagend. The string niaterialis then cutor severed bymeans of the material C, engages the string S and is then moveddownwardly to a retracted condition, thereby pulling the string Sthrough the said orifice, the looper in this operation being movedbetween the full and dotted line positions 7 shown in the drawings. 7

During the movement of the bag from station I to station II, thematerial for forming the flexible cover C fed from a continuing supplysource (reel) 42 by means of feed rollers 44 to the station II and issevered by means of the cutters 46 along the line 48 (see FIG. 5).

"In the next step of the process the bag T, on the carrier wheel 28,,ismoved, end forward, into the now severed flexible cover member C at theorifice and slit thereof, thereby folding said cover member C about afold (which includes the orifice and the slit) over the end of the bagT, the bag now with the two wings of the cover engaging the facesthereof moving from station II to station III. In this movement the bagand cover assembly is'en-gaged between a set of interior plates 50, 50and a set of exterior plates 52, 52 (see FIG. 6), the bag and coverassembly moving in the spaces 54, 54 between the two sets of plates andbeing confined by the walls of these spaces. In this movement the stringS, releasably'held by the looper 22 is frictionally engaged by tensiondisks 56 mounted on one of the interior plates 50 (see'particularly FIG.6), the string being thereby frictionally (and slidably) restrained bythe tension disks. In this movement the string S is laid over one sideof the bag and cover assembly as clearly shown in FIG. 4.

In the next step of the proces the assembly thus far produced istransferred to another rotatable carrier 58 rotatable in a directionopposite to that of carrier 28, as indicated by the arrow 60. Thecarrier 58 rotatable about an axis defined by the shaft 62 carries setsof gripper fingers 64 and 66 pivotally oscillatable on the carrier 58about shafts 68 and 70 respectively (see FIG. 7), the said fingers beingmovable from a closed condition at station III to an open position atstation IV. In the finger closed position at station 111 the embryopackage assembly produced is transferred from the carrier wheel 28 tothe carrier 58, the parts at this stage of the step being best shown inFIG. 7 of the drawings. Referring to FIG. 7 it will be noted that thebody of the bag T, just released from the space between the interior andexterior plate sets is in a flat condition With the tea contentsuniformly distributed and with the wings of the cover C firmly incontact with the faces of the bag T,. the string S adding its effect byexerting a pull on the outer face of the embryo assembly.

In the next step of the process the embryo bag assembly is moved by thecarrier 58, held between the fingers 64 and 66 from station III tostation IV, During this mo e ment the string S is, engaged by a secondset of/tension disks 72 fixed to an extension 74' on one 9ft$ exteriorplates 52; and as the embryo assembly is rotated from the station III tothe station IV position, the string S completes its encirclement, undertension, of the bag and cover assembly, the assembly being maintained inits flattened I state. At this station IV grippers 76 movable over theare designated by the double arrow 78, take hold of the end 18 of thestring S and move the same'from the full line to the dotted lineposition shown in FIG. 4, thereby cutters 34, after which the bag T isreturned to the carwheel 28, the movement of the bag from and to thecarrier wheel being indicated by the double arrow 36. Just prior to thestring severing operation the string S of the next preceding bag T is'engagedby fingers 38.

In the next step of the process the bag T with its attached string ismoved to stationH by the rotation of the carrierwheel 28. Thefifin gers38 are then moved the gripped string S from the fullline position to thedotted line (retracted) position shown in FIG. 4, the run cycle ofmovement of the fingers '38 being indicated bythe double arrow 40. Inthe retracted and thus held position of the string S the looper 22 (seealsoFIG. 6) is moved upwardly throngh the orifice 12 of the coverdrawing the string end into the slit 16 and firmly anchoring the stringin said slit at the cover fold.

In the next step of the process the fingers 64 and 66 are oscillated totheir open position (as shown at station IV) and the now nearlycompleted assembly descends to station V. At this station adhesive tabmaterial 80 fed from a continuing supply source is severed into sections82 which are folded and applied to the string ends 18 to form the fingertabs 20.

The compressible infusion package of my present invention, the method ofmaking the same, and the uses and advantages thereof will,it isbelieved, be fully apparent from the above detailed description thereof.It will be further apparent that changes may be made in the design ofthe package and in the steps of the method of making the same Withoutdeparting from the principles of the invention defined in the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. A compressible infusion package comprising an infusion bag, asuspending string attached to an end of the infusion bag, a flexiblecover member folded over said end of the infusion bag and defining twowings engaging the faces of the infusion bag, the fold of said coverbeing provided with an orifice for the loose reception of a portion ofsaid string and being also provided with a slit for the tight receptionof another portion of said string, the said string being looselythreaded through said orifice, being wound about and encircling theassembly of said member and infusion bag, and having its free enddetachably received and anchored in said slit, the said cover memberthereby serving the triple function of a packaging Wrapper for theinfusion bag held closed by said encircling and anchored string, ahandhold for the bag in its infusion use and a means for compressing andsqueezing the infused contents of said infusion bag.

2. A compressible infusion package comprising an infusion bag, asuspending string stapled to the top of the infusion bag and providedwith a finger tab at its free end, a cover sheet folded over the top ofthe infusion bag and defining two wings embracing the faces of theinfusion bag, the fold of said cover being provided with an orifice forthe loose reception of a portion of said string and being also providedWith a slit for the tight reception of another portion of said string,the said string being loosely threaded through said orifice, being woundabout to encircle the assembly of said folded sheet and infusion bag,and having its free end below said tab detaehably received and anchoredin said slit, the said folded sheet thereby serving the triple functionof a packaging Wrapper for the infusion bag held closed by saidencircling and anchored string, a handhold for the bag in its infusionuse and a means for compressing and squeezing the infused contents ofsaid infusion bag.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS185,864 McMillan Jan. 2, 1877 1,028,877 Herrick June 11, 1912 2,306,399Menzel Dec. 29, 1942 2,698,082 Maloney Dec. 28, 1954 2,800,408 FimpleJuly 23, 1957 2,834,164 Irmscher May 13, 1958 2,860,989 Geisinger Nov.18, 1958 2,861,403 Weisman Nov. 25, 1958 2,986,269 Goldberg May 30, 1961

2. A COMPRESSIBLE INFUSION PACKAGE COMPRISING AN INFUSION BAG, ASUSPENDING STRING STAPLED TO THE TOP OF THE INFUSION BAG AND PROVIDEDWITH A FINGER TAB AT ITS FREE END, A COVER SHEET FOLDED OVER THE TOP OFTHE INFUSION BAG AND DEFINING TWO WINGS EMBRACING THE FAES OF THEINFUSION BAG, THE FOLD OF SAID COVER BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ORIFICE FORTHE LOOSE RECEPTION OF A PORTION OF SAID STRING AND BEING ALSO PROVIDEDWITH A SLIT FOR THE TIGHT RECEPTION OF ANOTHER PORTION OF SAID STRING,THE SAID STRING BEING LOOSELY THREADED THROUGH SAID ORIFICE, BEING WOUNDABOUT TO ENCIRCLE THE ASSEMBLY OF SAID FOLDED SHEET AND INFUSION BAG,AND HAVING ITS FREE END BELOW SAID TAB DETACHABLY RECEIVED AND ANCHOREDIN SAID SLIT, THE SAID FOLDED SHEET THEREBY SERVING THE TRIPLE FUNCTIONOF A PACKAGING WRAPPER FOR THE INFUSION BAG HELD CLOSED BY SAIDENCIRCLING AND ANCHORED STRING, A HANDHOLD FOR THE BAG IN ITS INFUSIONUSE AND A MEANS FOR COMPRESSING AND SQUEEZING THE INFUSED CONTENTS OFSAID INFUSION BAG.